The Workplace Podcast in association with YellowWood

Episode 83: Rediscovering your ability to focus with Gloria Mark

In our latest episode of The Workplace Podcast we delve into the topic of focus and attention. In this captivating session, titled "Rediscovering Your Ability to Focus," we explore the intricate dance of staying attentive in an age where distractions are just a click away.

 

William talk with our distinguished guest, Gloria Mark, who brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. As Chancellor’s Professor Emerita of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine, her expertise lies at the intersection of psychology and digital media. With a storied career including a PhD from Columbia University and a decade-long tenure as a visiting senior researcher at Microsoft Research, Gloria has dedicated her life to understanding how technology affects our work, attention, and stress levels.

 

Gloria's research — showcased in over 200 scholarly articles and presented on platforms ranging from SXSW to the Aspen Ideas Festival — serves as a lighthouse for those navigating the choppy waters of digital distraction. Her induction into the ACM SIGCHI Academy highlights her as a beacon in the field of human-computer interaction.

 

In today’s conversation, we’ll dissect the myth of multitasking, unveil the hidden costs of digital interruptions, and provide you with actionable strategies to reclaim your focus. Gloria will also share insights from her groundbreaking book, "Attention Span," offering a blueprint to restore balance and productivity in our hyper-connected world.

 

Find out more about the work Gloria does here: Home - GLORIA MARK, PhD

Purchase her book here: Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity: Amazon.co.uk: Mark, Gloria: 9781335449412: Books

Episode 82: Innovation in the workplace with Nicola Kirton

Tune in to hear the latest episode of The Workplace Podcast where William talks with Nicola Kirton—guardian of the revolutionary Kirton Adaption-Innovation (KAI) theory. With a legacy rooted in ground-breaking psychological research, Nicola is not only the daughter of KAI's founder; but also holds 35 years of advising SMEs and government programs in her ledger.

Unpack the KAI framework—a tool that's not just theory but field-tested science, scrutinized in over 450 articles and 100 PhD theses.

Nicola's expertise isn't confined to academia; she's a seasoned veteran in the corporate trenches, having worked for Coca-Cola and American Express. Plus, she’s wielding quantitative tools from her math degree to make data-driven insights.

Whether you're leading a team, steering a project, or just looking to crack the code of effective problem-solving, this episode is your playbook.

Find out more about the work Nicola does here: Nicola Kirton - KAI and be sure to join her mailing list!

 

Episode 81: Building a Community at Work with Christine Porath

In our latest podcast episode, William had the privilege of chatting with Christine Porath, Visiting Faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, renowned for her ground breaking research on helping people and communities thrive.

Christine is not only a prolific contributor to the Harvard Business Review but has also graced the pages of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, McKinsey Quarterly, and the Washington Post. Her expertise has benefited executive programs at esteemed institutions like Harvard, Georgetown, and the University of Southern California (USC), where she was a faculty member at the Marshall School of Business. With an impressive body of work, she authored "Mastering Community," "Mastering Civility," and co-authored "The Cost of Bad Behaviour."

 

In this episode, Christine shares her insights on Building a Community at Work – a topic of paramount importance in today's professional landscape. Tune is as we explore her wealth of knowledge and experience!

Listen now to gain valuable insights and ideas for nurturing thriving communities at work. 

Find out more about the work Christine does here: Christine Porath | Author, PHD, Professor, Researcher, Speaker

 

Episode 80: Saying Sorry at Work with Marjorie Ingall

In this episode William is joined by Marjorie Ingall the co-author of Sorry Sorry Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies. Marjorie is also the author of Mamaleh Knows Best and The co-creator of the apology watchdog website SorryWatch.com.

This is a episode not to be missed as William and Marjorie discuss the art of the apology, covering many important topics such as:

Is there ever a good or bad time to apologise?
What makes an effective apology?
What makes for an ineffective apology?
What is the best kind of language to use when making an apology?

As well as much much more.

Find out more about the work Marjorie does here: Marjorie Ingall

Purchase the book here:Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies: Amazon.co.uk: Ingall, Marjorie, McCarthy, Susan: 9781982163495: Books

Episode 79: The Microstress Effect with Rob Cross

In this episode, William is joined by co-author of The Microstress Effect, Rob Cross.

Rob is the Edward A. Madden Professor of Global Leadership at Babson College and the cofounder and director of the Connected Commons, a consortium of more than 150 leading organizations.

He has studied the underlying networks of relationships within effective organizations and the collaborative practices of high performers for more than twenty years.

Working with over 300 organizations and reaching thousands of leaders from the front line to the C-suite, he has identified specific ways to cultivate vibrant, effective networks at all levels of an organization and any career stage.

As well as co-authoring "The Microstress Effect", he is also the author of "Beyond Collaboration Overload: How to Work Smarter, Get Ahead, and Restore Your Well-Being".

There are so many valuable insights and takeaways from this episode as William and Rob discuss:

What microstress means

The impact it can have on us both physically and mentally

The common categories of microstresses

Find out more about the work Rob does here: Rob Cross • Lead Better, Work Better, Live Better

Buy the book here: The Microstress Effect: The Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems--and What to Do about It: Amazon.co.uk: Cross, Rob, Dillon, Karen: 9781647823979: Books

Download the microstress app here: The Microstress Effect - Apps on Google Play

Episode 78: Self-Promotion At Work with Lisa Bragg

In this episode we're shining a light on Author, Consultant and Speaker, Lisa Bragg!

Living with the name Bragg, Lisa has had to master the art and science of self-promotion. She’s seen when being too humble has cost international deals and when bragging right has unlocked opportunities leading to untold fortunes.

Lisa helps high-achievers of all sorts to be seen, heard and share their value with the world. She then takes it a step further to show leaders how to help less visible people on their teams to do the same. Her book, Bragging Rights: How to Talk about Your Work Using Purposeful Self-Promotion, launched as a best seller in May 2023.

Bragging Rights is based on insights from Lisa’s career as an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur and consultant.

Lisa’s clients include top 100 financial services firms, professional services, governments, associations, entrepreneurs and not-for-profits.

There are many valuable insights to be gleaned from this episode as William and Lisa discuss:

➢ How to be more comfortable with self-promotion

➢ The social trap of modesty

➢ The myths associated with under-valuing ourselves

➢ Shine Theory

And much much more.

Find out more about the work Lisa does here: Lisa Bragg

Purchase Bragging Rights here: Bragging Rights: How to Talk About Your Work Using Purposeful Self-Promotion: Bragg, Lisa: 9781774582794: Amazon.com: Books

 

Episode 77: The Extended Mind with Annie Murphy Paul

In this Episode William speaks with acclaimed science writer, Annie Murphy Paul. Annie’s insightful work has graced the pages of prestigious publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Scientific American, and The Best American Science Writing, just to name a few. Her expertise in the field is truly remarkable!

In this episode William and Annie delve into her latest book, "The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain." This thought-provoking piece explores the fascinating concept of how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains—in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships.

Annie’s publishing’s go beyond "The Extended Mind." Her previous works include "Origins," an exploration of the science of prenatal influences, and "The Cult of Personality," a cultural history and scientific critique of personality testing.

Annie currently serves as a senior writer at the esteemed podcast, Hidden Brain.

There are many valuable insights to be gleaned from this episode as William and Annie discuss:

➢ Future proofing in relation to AI
➢ Practicing cognitive fitness
➢ The importance of movement

As well as much more

 

Find out more about the work Annie does here: Annie Murphy Paul - The Extended Mind

 

Episode 76: Intrinsic Motivation with Stefan Falk

In this latest episode of The Workplace Podcast, William is joined by Stefan Falk, renowned executive coach and human performance expert. With 30+ years experience ranging from McKinsey & Company to special ops and elite athletes, Stefan has helped countless individuals tap into the power of intrinsic motivation.

 

Not only has Stefan trained over 4,000 leaders worldwide and driven billion-dollar corporate transformations, but he's also co-authored 'Neuroleadership', an influential book redefining our understanding of leadership and motivation.

 

In this episode, Stefan shares his insights on harnessing intrinsic motivation for peak performance.

Find out more about the work Stefan does here: Intrinsic Motivation - (learntoloveyourwork.com)

Episode75: Conflict Coaching Fundamentals with Samantha Hardy

In this latest episode William is joined by Samantha Hardy to discuss the Fundamentals of Conflict Coaching.

Samantha is the principal of Conflict Coaching International, and the Director and Lead Trainer for CCI Academy. She is an experienced mediator and conflict coach and the founder of the REAL Conflict Coaching System™.

Sam has been accredited as a mediator under the Australian National Mediation Accreditation System and is a Certified Transformative Mediator by the US Institute of Conflict Transformation. She is a Certified Narrative Coach.

In 2021 Sam was awarded the Australian Resolution Institute Award for Service to Dispute Resolution for her leadership and innovation in the field. She was also awarded 2022 Conflict Coach of the Year at the Australian Dispute Resolution Awards.

Sam holds a PhD in Law and Conflict Resolution, as well as other postgraduate qualifications in adult education.

Sam has also published widely in conflict resolution, including her books Dispute Resolution in Australia, Mediation for Lawyers and Conflict Coaching Fundamentals: Working with Conflict Stories.

Listeners will gain many valuable insights from this episode as Sam and William explore the topic of Conflict Coaching together and the benefits it can bring to the workplace and the mediation process.

 

Find out more about the work Samantha does here https://www.cciacademy.com/

Episode 74: Organisational Culture with Dr. Rita Meyerson

In this latest episode William is joined by Dr. Rita Meyerson, a renowned organizational transformation and leadership development expert.

Rita is currently serving as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Organization and Leadership in Columbia University’s Social Organizational Psychology Master’s Program and an an Advisory Board Member of the World Institute for Action Learning. She has successfully driven numerous large-scale, global organizational change efforts that have built high-performance cultures.

There are many valuable insights to be taken from this episode as Rita shares her expertise with William and they explore the topic of Organisational Culture together.

Find out more about the work Rita does here: Rita Meyerson, Ed.D